Tiny Flying Robot Gets Faster with Help of Artificial Intelligence

Topic: Technology

Scientists at MIT have made a tiny flying robot go much faster using artificial intelligence. The robot can now do tricks like body flips and fly through narrow spaces.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have improved the speed of a tiny flying robot by 450%. This is thanks to an artificial intelligence-based controller that helps the robot navigate through tight spaces and avoid obstacles.

The team, led by Kevin Chen, has been working on developing robotic insects for over five years. Their latest design is about the size of a microcassette and weighs less than a paperclip. The robot's wings are driven by soft artificial muscles that allow it to flap quickly.

However, the robot's controller was a major limitation until now. A human had to manually tune the controller to get the robot to fly correctly. But with the new AI-based controller, the robot can perform complex maneuvers like body flips and saccades (quick turns).

The researchers used a two-part control system that balances performance with computational efficiency. This allows the robot to work in real-time while handling uncertainty and complex control problems.

The team's research was published in Science Advances journal.

Why It Matters

This breakthrough could help rescue teams search for people trapped under collapsed buildings after earthquakes. The tiny flying robots can navigate through narrow spaces that larger drones cannot enter.

Key Facts

• MIT researchers improved the speed of a tiny flying robot by 450% using artificial intelligence.
• The robot is about the size of a microcassette and weighs less than a paperclip.
• The AI-based controller helps the robot navigate through tight spaces and avoid obstacles.
• The team's research was published in Science Advances journal.
• This breakthrough could help rescue teams search for people trapped under collapsed buildings after earthquakes.

Key Terms

Artificial Intelligence

A computer system that learns from data to make decisions or perform tasks.

Controller

The part of a robot's brain that decides how it should move and act.

Implications

This breakthrough could help rescue teams search for people trapped under collapsed buildings after earthquakes. The tiny flying robots can navigate through narrow spaces that larger drones cannot enter.